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Page 14 - The Indian EYE 021326
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    North                       The Indian Eye

                              AMERICANNewsline

             14                                                                                                            FEBRUARY 13, 2026
                          Mayor Mamdani, City Agencies

             Launch Free Tax Prep Services for 2026

            OUR BUREAU                                                                                            listic  approach  to  care.  “Access  to
                                                                                                                  high-quality care must also include
            New York, NY
                                                                                                                  access  to  the  financial  resources
                     ayor  Zohran  Mamdani                                                                        that  support  healthier  lives,”  she
                     on  Thursday  joined  the                                                                    said, encouraging eligible residents
            MDepartment  of  Consum-                                                                              to schedule appointments and claim
            er and Worker Protection (DCWP),                                                                      the  refunds  and  credits  they  have
            NYC  Health  +  Hospitals,  and                                                                       earned.
            MetroPlusHealth to kick off the 2026                                                                      NYC Free Tax Prep offers mul-
            tax season with an expanded push for                                                                  tiple  service  options,  including  tra-
            free,  citywide  tax  preparation  ser-                                                               ditional  in-person  assistance,  docu-
            vices,  paired  with  stronger  enforce-                                                              ment drop-off services, fully virtual
            ment  against  deceptive  practices  in                                                               tax preparation conducted via secure
            the paid tax preparer industry.                                                                       video  conferencing,  and  assisted
                Announcing the start of DCWP’s                                                                    self-preparation for filers who want
            NYC  Free  Tax  Prep  initiative,  the                                                                to complete their returns online with
            Mayor said the program is designed                                                                    expert support available by phone or
            to ensure New Yorkers can file their                                                                  email. IRS-certified VITA and TCE
            taxes accurately without paying high   and  deceptive  practices  such  as  dis-  Population Health Officer Dr. Nich-  volunteers staff all services.
            fees or falling victim to scams. The ef-  guising  Refund  Anticipation  Loans   ola Davis said the partnership with   The  Internal  Revenue  Service
            fort offers both in-person and virtual   as “rapid refunds” or “fast cash.”  NYC  Free  Tax  Prep  has  grown  sig-  began accepting tax returns on Jan-
            tax preparation services in multiple   The  NYC  Free  Tax  Prep  pro-  nificantly since its launch.   uary  26  and  will  continue  through
            languages  across  the  five  boroughs,  gram  is  available  to  anyone  who   “Since  2018,  we’ve  expanded   April 15, 2026. Many NYC Free Tax
            including  at  NYC  Health  +  Hospi-  lives or works in New York City and   from  a  single  pilot  site  to  15  loca-  Prep  sites  remain  open  year-round
            tals  facilities  and  MetroPlusHealth   earns $97,000 or less per year filing   tions in 2026,” she said. “By helping   to  help  late  filers,  assist  with  pri-
            community sites.                  as a family, or $68,000 or less filing   patients file for free and access tax   or-year  returns,  and  support  small
               “New  Yorkers  shouldn’t  have   as  an  individual  or  couple  without   credits,  we  are  reducing  financial   business  owners  and  self-employed
            to  jump  through  hoops  or  pay  out-  dependents.  City  officials  estimate   stress that often stands in the way of   workers  with  quarterly  and  annual
            rageous fees just to file their taxes,”  that roughly half of all New Yorkers   good health.”         filing requirements.
            Mayor  Mamdani  said.  “Through   qualify. Services are offered at more   Elected  officials  echoed  that   City officials noted that access to
            NYC  Free  Tax  Prep,  our  adminis-  than 140 Volunteer Income Tax As-  message.  Council  Member  Harvey   free  assistance  is  especially  import-
            tration is working across agencies to   sistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling   Epstein,  Chair  of  the  Consumer   ant  this  year  following  the  elimina-
            help people file for free, receive the   for  the  Elderly  (TCE)  sites  across   and  Worker  Protection  Committee,  tion of the IRS Direct File program,
            refunds they’re owed, and avoid hid-  the city, with appointments available   said free tax preparation can make   which reduced federal no-cost filing
            den fees and tax scams.”          now.                              a  meaningful  difference  for  low-in-  options.
                The program has delivered sub-    DCWP     Commissioner   Sam   come  households.  “New  Yorkers      Specialised support is also avail-
            stantial  savings  in  recent  years.  In   Levine urged New Yorkers to avoid   should not have to choose between   able  for  self-employed  New  York-
            2025, more than 110,000 tax returns   unnecessary expenses during tax sea-  paying for tax services and covering   ers,  including  gig  workers,  freelanc-
            were completed through NYC Free   son. “Protect your budget and skip   essentials  like  rent,  food,  or  child-  ers, and small business owners with
            Tax Prep, saving filers an average of   pricey  paid  tax  preparation  if  you   care,” he said.     business  expenses  of  $250,000  or
            $346  per  return  and  an  estimated   can,” Levine said. “Our knowledge-  MetroPlusHealth President and   less. These services include help with
            $38.2 million in tax preparation fees   able  preparers  will  make  sure  you   CEO  Dr.  Talya  Schwartz  said  the   estimated  quarterly  taxes,  record-
            citywide.                         get your full refund and claim cred-  organisation  is  once  again  offering   keeping  guidance,  and  one-on-one
                Building on that success, the City   its  you  may  be  eligible  for,  includ-  in-person  tax  preparation  at  select   consultations  tailored  to  the  needs
            is this year pairing free filing services   ing  the  recently  enhanced  Empire   community offices, along with virtu-  of independent workers.
            with a stepped-up compliance drive   State  Child  Tax  Credit.”  He  added   al assistance from trained volunteers.   Language access is another key
            targeting  paid  tax  preparers  who   that DCWP is intensifying efforts to   “For many working families, no-cost   component  of  the  initiative.  Select
            overcharge or mislead consumers.  protect residents from tax scams at   tax help can have a real impact,” she   NYC  Health  +  Hospitals  sites  pro-
                DCWP  will  conduct  a  citywide   a time when many student loan bor-  said,  noting  that  the  organisation’s   vide  assistance  in  Spanish,  Arabic,
            sweep of paid tax preparer locations   rowers are facing uncertainty due to   mission  extends  beyond  health  in-  Chinese,  Russian,  and  Urdu,  while
            to ensure compliance with local con-  shifting federal policies.    surance to broader support services.  virtual  tax  preparation  is  available
            sumer protection laws. The agency is   City health leaders stressed the   Michelle  Lewis,  CEO  of  NYC   in  Spanish.  When  on-site  language
            also  issuing  notices  reminding  pre-  link  between  financial  stability  and   Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health,  support is unavailable, preparers use
            parers that New York City law bans   overall  well-being.  NYC  Health  +   said offering tax preparation direct-  IRS-approved  over-the-phone  inter-
            illegal  overcharging,  hidden  fees,  Hospitals Vice President and Chief   ly  at  health  centres  reflects  a  ho-  pretation services.

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